Hero's plea to catch arsonist

A HERO fireman who suffered terrible burns as he tried to rescue a family from an arson blaze has pleaded for witnesses to come forward. Steven Morris suffered 50 per cent burns in the Bolton house fire in which two people died. He says he wouldn't think twice about doing the same thing again, but is desperate for the firebugs who started the blaze to be caught.

A HERO fireman who suffered terrible burns as he tried to rescue a family from an arson blaze has pleaded for witnesses to come forward.

Steven Morris suffered 50 per cent burns in the Bolton house fire in which two people died. He says he wouldn't think twice about doing the same thing again, but is desperate for the firebugs who started the blaze to be caught.

Speaking about the tragedy for the first time, he described the horror that followed when his brigade watch was called to the house on Little Holme Walk in Great Lever.

Steven was searching the house when a gas main rupture caused an explosion and he faced a desperate fight to escape - but he said he had 'no regrets' about deciding to go in.

Steven added: "If you saw anyone running from the building or milling about outside prior to incident, I'm sure the police would love to hear from you."

Recalling the night, he said: "I can remember realising I was on fire. My knee-jerk reaction was 'God, I'm on fire'.

"I dived down the stairs and broke my elbow on the way down. I got to my feet and battered the front door down. My helmet had come off and my flash hood was burned off.

"I didn't really feel any pain other than on my fingers."

Steven was taken to the Royal Bolton hospital and moved to Wythenshawe hospital, where he spent nine months. He had skin grafts to his back, buttocks and legs. The tips of all his fingers were taken off and he had burns to his face.

It took nurses five hours to replace his bandages in what he said was an 'agonising' process.

While in hospital, he proposed to partner Pauline Phipps. He said: "It made me realise if you want to do something, just do it.

"Don't wait for a good time, because there'll never be one."

Five people have been arrested in connection with the fire and are bailed until June 25.